Editing Telewest (section)

== History ==
Telewest originated in [[Croydon]] in 1984 under the name "Croydon Cable".<ref name=history>{{cite web | url=http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/About-us/Company-history/Telewest-history/ | title=Company history  | access-date=27 April 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231123522/http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/About-us/Company-history/Telewest-history/ | archive-date=31 December 2011 }}</ref> United Cable, of [[Denver]], acquired Croydon Cable in 1988. Franchises extended the company scope into [[Edinburgh]] and the southwest and southeast of England. In 1989, United Cable merged with United Artists Cable International.

In May 1991, United Artists announced a merged deal with its largest shareholder [[Tele-Communications Inc.]] (TCI), to form the largest cable operator in the United States; the deal was valued at $142.5m,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-08-fi-197-story.html | title=United Artists Entertainment Agrees to Merger | work=Los Angeles Times | date=8 June 1991 | access-date=8 June 2022 | archive-date=9 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609020804/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-08-fi-197-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and by June the deal was improved.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-06-08-9102200927-story.html | title=TCI Cools Opposition With Sweetened United Artists Bid | work=Chicago Tribune | date=8 June 1991 | access-date=8 June 2022 | archive-date=9 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609020803/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-06-08-9102200927-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The deal was finalised a week later on 8 June 1991, with TCI acquiring the remaining 46% of United Artists, to allow full control.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/08/business/company-news-tele-communications-in-united-artists-deal.html | title=Tele-Communications In United Artists Deal | work=The New York Times | date=8 June 1991|access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref>

TCI and [[US West]] announced a joint venture, and in 1992, the joint venture company became Telewest Communications, a combination of the names of both founding companies. In June 1995, Telewest merged with SBC CableComms, adding franchises in the Midlands and North West serving 1.3&nbsp;million homes. During this time Telewest founded a consortium called Cable Internet. This consisted of the major cable companies in the United Kingdom working together to provide a national Internet access service.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cascade+switches+spearhead+TeleWest's+cable+Internet+infrastructure%3B...-a018488368 | title=Cascade switches spearhead TeleWest's cable Internet infrastructure | quote=UK's largest cable operator selects Cascade multiservice switches for Frame Relay network to provide cable Internet services }}</ref>

In March 1998, Telewest announced a merger with General Cable,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14160469?ref=HadiZayifla.Com | title=Telewest in £649m merger | access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and acquired the outstanding interest in Birmingham Cable, adding a further 1.7&nbsp;million franchise homes in Yorkshire, west London and Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14179644 | title=Telewest buys up NTL stake | access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Telewest purchased the remaining 50% stake in [[Cable London]] from NTL in August 1999, adding 0.4&nbsp;million franchise homes in [[North London]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/430565.stm | title=Telewest buys Cable London | work=BBC News | access-date=1 January 2009 | date=26 August 1999 | archive-date=28 October 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021028124020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/430565.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Telewest merged with [[Flextech]] in April 2000,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/telewest-merger-with-flextech-would-challenge-murdoch-grip-740955.html | title=Telewest merger with Flextech would challenge Murdoch grip | work=The Independent | location=London | first=Bill | last=McIntosh | date=7 December 1999 | access-date=1 January 2009 | archive-date=14 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214041844/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/telewest-merger-with-flextech-would-challenge-murdoch-grip-740955.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> and in November, extended its cable network with the acquisition of [[Eurobell]], taking the total number of homes passed to 4.9&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6695/is_/ai_n26421670 | title=UK Group buys independent | access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The company later became known as "Telewest Broadband" in a rebrand during 2001.<ref name=history /> Telewest experienced financial difficulties in subsequent years, owing to the debts incurred as a result of constructing its cable network and acquiring other cable companies and assets. Notably, the Eurobell acquisition had been funded by an equity based deal, with a [[Option (finance)|cash option]]; the poor performance of the company's stock meant that the cash option was favourable, and the company was not able to cover the call.

In September 2003, Telewest restructured itself, by swapping its [[unsecured debt]] for 98.5% of its shares.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3111380.stm | title=Telewest signs debt swap deal |work=BBC News  | date=15 September 2003 | access-date=1 January 2009}}</ref> The [[London Stock Exchange]] then delisted the consolidated shares. Major Telewest shareholders included Huff and [[Liberty Media]] (run by cable tycoon [[John Malone]]).

=== Takeover by NTL ===
The takeover of Telewest by [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]] – a company of similar size, operating in different parts of the UK – was announced in October 2005, at a reported cost of $6bn.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2005-10-03 |title=NTL seals $6bn Telewest takeover |language=en-GB |work=BBC News: Business |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4304008.stm |access-date=2023-11-29 |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223102421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4304008.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> At that time, Telewest had 8,400 staff in the UK.<ref name=":0" /> The combined company at first used the name NTL:Telewest, then changed its name to [[Virgin Media]] in 2007, following the acquisition of [[Virgin Mobile (UK)|Virgin Mobile]] the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-02-02 |title=Virgin Media to launch on February 8 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a42351/virgin-media-to-launch-on-february-8/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Nickelodeon dispute===
In late 2004, negotiations for renewed carriage of the [[Nickelodeon (British and Irish TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] channels (Nickelodeon, [[Nick Jr. (British and Irish TV channel)|Nick Jr.]] and [[Nicktoons (British and Irish TV channel)|Nicktoons]]) broke down; Telewest was unwilling to pay extra to keep the channels and preferred to drop them. Other [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]]-owned channels remained, such as [[MTV (British and Irish TV channel)|MTV]] and, the now former, [[Comedy Central (British TV channel)|Paramount Comedy 1]]. 
 
The reaction to this by customers was fairly large and many left the provider to rival [[Sky Ltd|Sky]], with Nickelodeon even encouraging the move.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} Other customers were retained by Telewest offering them a free upgrade to the [[Disney Channel (British and Irish TV channel)|Disney Channel]] for periods of between one and three months, while others were reportedly offered upgrades to [[Sky Movies]] packages in an attempt to keep them from leaving.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} The Nickelodeon channels returned to the Telewest platform on 12 February 2005 following successful renegotiation in Nickelodeon's favour.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a17703/telewest-pulls-plug-on-nickelodeon | title=Telewest pulls plug on Nickelodeon | work=Digital Spy | date=16 December 2004 | access-date=23 September 2020 | archive-date=9 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409231652/https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a17703/telewest-pulls-plug-on-nickelodeon/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/nickelodeon-channels-return-telewest-dispute/461662| title= Nickelodeon channels return to Telewest after dispute| work= Campaign Live| date= 15 February 2005| access-date= 23 September 2020| archive-date= 2 October 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201002043549/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/nickelodeon-channels-return-telewest-dispute/461662| url-status= live}}</ref>